The association between social capital and loneliness in different age groups: a population-based study in Western Finland
Abstract Background Previous studies of loneliness have largely focused on establishing risk factors in specific age groups such as in later life or in young people. Researchers have paid less attention to the link between social capital and loneliness across different age groups. The aim of this st...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2016-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-3248-x |
| _version_ | 1818909589779775488 |
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| author | Fredrica Nyqvist Christina R. Victor Anna K. Forsman Mima Cattan |
| author_facet | Fredrica Nyqvist Christina R. Victor Anna K. Forsman Mima Cattan |
| author_sort | Fredrica Nyqvist |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Previous studies of loneliness have largely focused on establishing risk factors in specific age groups such as in later life or in young people. Researchers have paid less attention to the link between social capital and loneliness across different age groups. The aim of this study was to examine the association between social capital and experienced loneliness in different age groups in a Finnish setting. Methods The data originates from a population-based cross-sectional survey conducted among 4618 people aged 15–80 in Western Finland in 2011. The response rate was 46.2 %. The association between social capital, measured by frequency of social contacts, participation in organisational activities, trust and sense of belonging to the neighbourhood and loneliness was tested by logistic regression analyses stratified by four age groups. Results Frequent loneliness (defined as experienced often or sometimes) was higher among younger people (39.5 %) compared to older people (27.3 %). Low levels of trust were linked to loneliness in all four age groups. The association between other aspects of social capital and loneliness varied across age groups. Conclusions Frequent loneliness is common among the general adult population and could be seen as a public health issue. Our findings imply that low social capital, especially in terms of low trust, may be a risk factor for loneliness. However, further research is needed to assess the influence of poor health and reverse causality as explanations for the findings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T22:29:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d9851ec0dd9d4b3abf74b34761cba6bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T22:29:19Z |
| publishDate | 2016-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d9851ec0dd9d4b3abf74b34761cba6bb2022-12-21T20:03:23ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582016-07-011611810.1186/s12889-016-3248-xThe association between social capital and loneliness in different age groups: a population-based study in Western FinlandFredrica Nyqvist0Christina R. Victor1Anna K. Forsman2Mima Cattan3Åbo Akademi University, Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Study Programme of Social Sciences, Social PolicyCollege of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University LondonÅbo Akademi University, Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Study Programme of Social Sciences, Developmental PsychologyFaculty of Health and Social Sciences, Northumbria UniversityAbstract Background Previous studies of loneliness have largely focused on establishing risk factors in specific age groups such as in later life or in young people. Researchers have paid less attention to the link between social capital and loneliness across different age groups. The aim of this study was to examine the association between social capital and experienced loneliness in different age groups in a Finnish setting. Methods The data originates from a population-based cross-sectional survey conducted among 4618 people aged 15–80 in Western Finland in 2011. The response rate was 46.2 %. The association between social capital, measured by frequency of social contacts, participation in organisational activities, trust and sense of belonging to the neighbourhood and loneliness was tested by logistic regression analyses stratified by four age groups. Results Frequent loneliness (defined as experienced often or sometimes) was higher among younger people (39.5 %) compared to older people (27.3 %). Low levels of trust were linked to loneliness in all four age groups. The association between other aspects of social capital and loneliness varied across age groups. Conclusions Frequent loneliness is common among the general adult population and could be seen as a public health issue. Our findings imply that low social capital, especially in terms of low trust, may be a risk factor for loneliness. However, further research is needed to assess the influence of poor health and reverse causality as explanations for the findings.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-3248-xLonelinessSocial capitalAge groupsPopulation-based surveyWestern Finland |
| spellingShingle | Fredrica Nyqvist Christina R. Victor Anna K. Forsman Mima Cattan The association between social capital and loneliness in different age groups: a population-based study in Western Finland BMC Public Health Loneliness Social capital Age groups Population-based survey Western Finland |
| title | The association between social capital and loneliness in different age groups: a population-based study in Western Finland |
| title_full | The association between social capital and loneliness in different age groups: a population-based study in Western Finland |
| title_fullStr | The association between social capital and loneliness in different age groups: a population-based study in Western Finland |
| title_full_unstemmed | The association between social capital and loneliness in different age groups: a population-based study in Western Finland |
| title_short | The association between social capital and loneliness in different age groups: a population-based study in Western Finland |
| title_sort | association between social capital and loneliness in different age groups a population based study in western finland |
| topic | Loneliness Social capital Age groups Population-based survey Western Finland |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-3248-x |
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